Why Fresh, Organic Ramen Noodles Matter

When most people think about ramen noodles, they think about the big, commercial brands of ramen you see in most grocery stores. These might be great comfort food, but they’re not exactly the most health-conscious choices.

So, what do you do if you’re trying to eat healthy, but you also want a convenient, filling bowl of ramen noodles?

Mike’s Mighty Good makes organic ramen noodles that are steamed, not fried like most major brands. They’re delicious, they’re wholesome, and they have the chewy texture you expect from authentic steamed ramen.

Here’s everything you need to know about organic ramen noodles, and why you should never settle for anything else.

Lower Sodium

Let’s start with the basics; salt isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, sodium is one of the electrolytes that’s essential for your body’s functioning. But the modern American diet contains significantly more sodium than is healthy, and the bulk of that sodium comes from processed foods, packaged foods, and fast foods. The FDA even sent out a recent notice asking food manufacturers to put less salt in their products.

Most instant ramen contains a ton of salt. When this salt goes into your system, your body retains more water to dissolve it. This can cause you to feel bloated, because you’re putting on water weight. You can also feel brain fog, and you’ll almost certainly get thirsty and drink a bunch of water.

Salt isn’t just a concern for your health; as often as not, excessive salt is used to cover for the other shortcomings of cheap ramen. Instead of a complex blend of spices, companies just use more salt. Instead of investing in quality noodles, they add salt to compensate.

Mike’s Mighty Good ramen contains about 40% less sodium than most leading brands, but you don’t sacrifice any flavors. Instead, we use a blend of spices for a layered, complex flavor you won’t find anywhere else.

No Weird Ingredients

You probably know to be wary of preservatives, but they’re far from the only thing to worry about when you’re eating a big commercial noodle. Besides preservatives, a lot of ramen brands use artificial colors and flavors. These can contain all kinds of chemicals that are mixed up in a lab and added to the flavor packets.

If you look at ingredients from one of the major brands, you’ll see things like MSG, hydrolyzed protein, and Disodium Inosinate, another MSG-like salt.

When you read Mike’s Mighty Good’s ramen ingredients, our flavor comes from broth, herbs and spices. Mike’s Mighty Good noodles, meanwhile, contain organic wheat, salt, and water. They’re simple ingredients you’ll find in your grandmother’s kitchen.

Fresh, Steamed Noodles

Ramen noodles are a wheat product, similar to bread or pasta. In theory, they should only contain vitamins and carbohydrates, similar to a bread or a pasta. Sadly, most major brands complicate things by adding a bunch of oil to the equation. This is because of their production process.

Large, commercial ramen manufacturers flash-fry their noodles in oil before they’re dehydrated and packaging. This is great for manufacturers, because it shaves a few minutes off the cooking time for each batch. Unfortunately, it also adds a lot of unnecessary fat to your meal.

Moreover, fried noodles have a fundamentally different character from traditional ramen. At an authentic ramen bar, they steam the noodles, which takes a little bit longer than frying, but creates a chewy texture and a more nuanced flavor. Flash-fried noodles, on the other hand, are steeped in oil. When they’re prepared, the oil mixes into the broth and alters the flavor profile.

At Mike’s Mighty Good, we think packaged noodles should be as authentic the ones you buy at a ramen bar. That’s why we take the time to steam them, to give you the texture and flavor you expect from the real thing.

Along the same lines, all of our ramen noodle ingredients are non-gmo and organic. There are no pesticides, or anything else besides wholesome, delicious ingredients.

Fresh Noodles Make a Better Bowl

By now, we’ve established many of the reasons you should try fresh, organic noodles. Whether you’re cooking for yourself or for whole family, it’s going to get you a much better result. Mike’s Mighty Good creates many flavors of craft ramen, from standard pillow packs to convenient on-the-go cups.

But if you’re still not sure about the benefits of steamed ramen with natural ingredients, here are a few more things to consider.

No Frying Needed

If you’re at all concerned about yourself, eating steamed noodles is a no-brainer. Sure, not all oils and fats are bad. But why on earth would you want to eat a noodle that’s riddled with unnecessary oil? By eating steamed noodles, you’re getting just the wheat and other ingredients you expect from a noodle.

Not only that, but fried noodles taste different from steamed noodles. If you want the real thing, fresh, steamed noodles are the way to go.

Smoother Texture, Without the Oil

If you’ve ever had fresh ramen from a ramen bar, you’ve probably noticed that they have a springy, bouncy texture. They’re plump and springy, and they naturally absorb the flavor of some of the surrounding broth.

Fried noodles have a completely different, oily texture. They’re floppy, not springy, and they don’t take on as much of the broth’s flavor and aroma. The result is an inferior bowl of ramen.

Fewer Calories

Along the same lines, when you’re adding a bunch of oil to the noodles, you’re also adding extra calories. This is more or less a law of nature.

Steaming, on the other hand, doesn’t contribute any extra calories. This only makes sense, since steam is calorie-free. All else being equal, a package of steamed noodles will have less calories than a comparable package of fried noodles.

Richer Flavor

If you’re a true noodle aficionado, you’re probably well-attuned to the nuances of flavor in your ramen bowl. If you’re going to choose one style of noodle over another, it had better be the tastier option.

With our organic ramen noodles, Mike’s Mighty Good doesn’t hide behind a bunch of salt and artificial flavors. We craft delicious, craft ramen that’s packed with nuanced, textured flavors.

And because our noodles are steamed, you’re getting the authentic noodle flavor you’d get from a neighborhood ramen bar. When you get right down to it, there’s no substitute for the real thing.

How to Make Your Ramen Healthier

Besides using fresh, organic noodles to begin with, there are other things you can do to make your next bowl of ramen healthier. Here are a few pointers:

• Add lots of vegetables. In and of themselves, noodles are a satisfying snack, but they don’t actually have a ton of vitamins. To have a truly balanced meal, throw in a few veggies. They’ll add some texture to your bowl, along with plenty of nutrients. You can also get a more complex flavor than you’ll get with noodles and broth alone.
• Add some protein. Just like carbs, it’s important to have protein in your diet to power through your day. Chicken, beef, eggs, tofu, pork, and other proteins are a great addition to any ramen bowl.
• Do your research. Check the ingredients before you choose ramen, and avoid anything with suspicious ingredients. If there’s a ton of salt, or a bunch of ingredients you can’t pronounce, move on to a different brand. Better yet, order from Mike’s Mighty Good!
• Don’t add too much salt. Even low-sodium ramen packets come with enough salt for flavor. If you want more taste, consider adding sriracha sauce, soy sauce, or something else more complex. Fish sauces are a particularly delicious choice, and feature prominently in many traditional ramen recipes.